MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16530, 14 September 1921, Page 8

MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

TO-DAY’S GASES, j CHRSBTCHURGH, (Before Mr Wyvorn Wilson, S-M.) IDLE AND DISORDERLY. Joseph Pearson, an old man, was charged with being an idle and disorderly person, and with having no lawful visible means of support. Sub-Inspector W. K. Simpson said that the accused had refused to go to the Ashburton Horae. When the Magistrate asked the accused whether he would go to prison or tho Ashburton Home, accused said. ‘ Oh. 1 suppose I shall have to go to Ashburton. ’ ’ Pearson was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon within, six months, and not to be called upon provided he remains in the Ashburton Home. A SERIOUS CHARGE. Norman M’Kenzie, a young man (Mr E. W. White), was charged with indecent assault on a male. Accused was remanded to appear on September 21, bail being allowed in seif one surety of £3OO and two other sureties of. £l5O each. FALSE PRETENCES. Alfred Frederick. Clarke was charged with attempting to obtain £6 12s from Alfred John Lawrence, licensee of tho Junction Hotel, Rangiora, by means, of a valueless cheque. Clarke was further charged with failing to comply with tho terms of his probation license and with entering licensed premises during the currency of a prohibition order. The licensee of the Junction Hotel said that accused had stayed ak his hotel on September 8. He tendered a cheque for £6 12s, in the name of Walter Brown, and then changed his mind and said he would go down to the bank and get it cashed. Clarke returned later to the hotel aud tried to borrow some silver. Witness then became suspicious. /

The constable who -arrested Clarke said that accused at first denied knowledge of the cheque’s existence, but when he was searched it was found in his right sock. Then accused said he did not know that he had done wrong and that a man had given the cheque to him. Mr Fawcett, probation officer, said that the accused was a workman of some ability, but he was lazy, and he was doing nothing towards supporting his wife. Clarke said that he bad a job to go to if he could get some consideration . The Magistrate : Consideration! You can’t expect that every time. It is only a few months ago since you obtained goods by false pretences, and were treated with consideration then ; but now you haA'e not only repeated vour offence, but you have broken your probation order and prohibition order. For the breach of probation order accused was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment, and on the charge of false pretences a similar term, the sentences t*> be concurrent. On the charge of breach of the prohibition order accused was convicted, sentence being postponed^ • REMANDED. / Angus Gordon Foster was charged with obtaining an overcoat, valued at £7 7s, from Harry Vincent by falsely representing that he hud an order from A. Boyle. Accused was remanded to appear again on September 21, bail being allowed in himself £IOO and two sureties of £SO each. CHARGE DISMISSED. Leslie Norman Sibley was charged with the theft: of a speedometer, valued at £3, the property of Henry Marshall, a motor dealer. Mr C. S. Thomas, w£o appeared for the accused, entered a plea of not guilty. He said that Sibley was given the speedometer by Mr Marshall’s as* sistant. Jt was a fair and legitimate sale. The Magistrate said that he did not believe the story told by Cooper, Mr Marshall’s assistant. It seemed improbable that Sibley stole the speedometer. The information would be dismissed. COMMITTED for trial. William Rothwell Kemp (Mr M. K. Gresson) was charged with committing an indecent act in the .yard of the Prince of Wales Hotel on September 13. After the hearing of evidence accused wae committed to the SupremeCourt for tidal. The bail of one surety of £IOO and two sureties of £SO each Vi as renewed. ASSAULT. Herbert -Francis Wait (Mr O. T. J. Alpers) pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting Harold Vincent Butcher on August 4, 1921. Accused was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon.